title: Implantable vascular access systems: experience in 1500 patients with totally implanted central venous port systems.
abstract: Totally implantable venous access systems are widely used, but large-scale studies evaluating these systems are lacking. In this study 1500 patients (719 male, 781 female) with an average age of 49 years (15-86 years) were fitted with subcutaneously implanted venous access systems, in most cases for long-term chemotherapy. All patients were observed until removal of the system, death, or the end of treatment. A retrospective analysis showed an average catheter life of 284 patient-days. A total of 1308 (87%) of the patients had no implant-related complications. Catheter infections occurred in 3.2% of the patients and catheter thromboses in 2.5%. Rarer complications, such as catheter malfunction, migration of the catheter, skin necrosis, catheter fracture, catheter disconnection, and pneumothorax, occurred in another 4.3% of the patients. The complications led to explantation of 178 access systems (11.9%). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the low rate of infections and other complications in the group of patients with solid tumors (2% and 4%, respectively) and the rate in patients with hematologic diseases (6% and 8%, respectively). This study confirms the safety and convenience of using totally implantable venous access systems in patients on long-term chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, Rhinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietsch
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilke
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Eigler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents